Austria

In 2020, hardly any COVID-19 cases were reported in Austrian prisons. This was achieved by at first very strict measures – minimised contacts with the outside world, no prisoners’ leave – and later by quite balanced ones – quarantine, high hygienic, and safe distance standards. Compensatory measures, such as video conferencing, were extended, but still remained hardly sufficient. Group strategies for staff and extensive permissions for leave of absence in cases of suspicious symptoms contributed to keep the virus out of prisons. Reprieves were granted extensively to reduce overcrowding, while no new measures were introduced to avoid prison sentences or to extend early release.